Are you going to bother with Beaujolais Noveau?

When I started out on my wine journey, I bought into the hype and then realized that, hey, none of this stuff is really any good and it is just hype.

How about you?

Within France and French-speaking Switzerland the eve and day of the Nouveau Beaujolais is known far and wide to be a thoroughly commercial endeavor but millions of people put that knowledge aside in order to turn the night and day into a nation-wide festival of simple fun. If I were in Paris you would find me at Bistro 28 on Rue de la Huchette; if in Aix-en-Provence at Le Relais; if in Nimes at Chez Juliette; etc....

In Israel where I reside the event has become so artificial and unappealing that the most I do is to taste the wines in the line of duty.

Best
Rogov

I've never been a fan of Beaujolais - Nouveau, Villages or otherwise.

[David M. Bueker]

no

I've gotten invited to the French Chamber of Commerce's annual Beaujolais Nouveau affair the past 3 years and never attended. I got invited again this year but, already having a prior commitment, I will, again, be unable to attend.

Non.

I am however anxiously awaiting the 2009 Domaine du Vissoux Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Tradiontionnelle.

Non.

I am however anxiously awaiting the 2009 Domaine du Vissoux Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Tradiontionnelle.

It's beautiful, Kelly, one of our favorites from the vintage so far. (It's more red-fruited and floral than many of the more brooding '09s we've tried so far) I've yet to open a Coudert or Lapierre, though, so time will tell.

Mark Lipton

No.

I'm attending a Beaujolais wine dinner tomorrow at St. Jacques in Raleigh. We will have a Beaujolais-Villages, a Julienas and a Moulin a Vent in addition to the Beaujolais Nouveau. And the menu includes pork and veal pate with cranberries in a pastry crust, French onion soup, beef bourguignon and pistachio roll with rum raisin ice cream, sugar cookie and creme anglaise. I once had a Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau that I prefered to those of Duboeuf and Louis Jadot.

If anywhere locally was pouring Brun or Vissoux BN, I might be tempted to poke my head in, but that's about as likely to happen as my house in Indiana becoming beachfront property.

Mark Lipton

I was fortunate enough to get a sample bottle this weekend ('10 DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau) and I must say I do think you will find the 2010 Nouveau to be somewhat engaging. It is loaded with fruit and flowers, but after 30 minutes or so it calms down to be a simple, but pleasant, quaff. We had it with steak-au-poivre, along with a Tain L'Hermitage Croze Hermitage. I actually enjoyed sipping on a glass after dinner. Definitely a wine that I will have on my Thanksgiving sideboard. I must say that this is probably the best Nouveau I've had, so join in the fun, "the water's fine". Just remember, these grapes were hanging on vines just 6-7 weeks ago. Amazing in and of itself.

Not a chance.

Regarding DuBoeuf: has he managed to get the bananas out of his wines yet?

-Paul W.

Regarding DuBoeuf: has he managed to get the bananas out of his wines yet?

For the most part, yes. But these are not "high-end" wines, you will always find a Beaujolais (usually DuBoeuf) in my tailgate cooler, and they are "on point" with what we are serving. I also like them with escargot in a wine dinner. His (and other's if you can find them) Cru are always noteworthy and a good value. Remember, we are talking about sub-$15 wines, and well worth it.

Noveau? No chance, have my eye on some `09s here in town.

It's beautiful, Kelly, one of our favorites from the vintage so far. (It's more red-fruited and floral than many of the more brooding '09s we've tried so far) I've yet to open a Coudert or Lapierre, though, so time will tell.

Mark Lipton

Mark, have you tried any of the other Vissoux 09s?

From the looks of these replies, which mirror what I see around me, people are over Beaujolais Nouveau. If the folks in Beaujolais have sense they will stop marketing it. Granted, they made a lot of money with it in the past but they've seriously damaged their brand. After drinking a Nouveau, how many newer wine drinkers are going to pay for a Cru Beaujolais which are wonderful, well priced wines that most people are not familiar with. I don't have any statistics but I'll bet that sales of the good stuff have suffered since the Nouveau epidemic.

It's beautiful, Kelly, one of our favorites from the vintage so far. (It's more red-fruited and floral than many of the more brooding '09s we've tried so far) I've yet to open a Coudert or Lapierre, though, so time will tell.

Mark Lipton

Mark, have you tried any of the other Vissoux 09s?

Nope. I'm sitting on the Poncie for the nonce, as well as the Garants. I'm still working on my '06s and waiting on the '05s.

Oenonecrophilistically yours,
Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

Heck no. Never met one I liked--that is, until I found a Brun in a markdown bin about a year later. THAT I liked.

I've never met a BN I've liked but I like a lot of people who like it, or say they do. I'll be having dinner with friends at a French restaurant tomorrow night surrounded by folks swilling the stuff and no doubt having a good time. We'll be drinking better but enjoying the party.

One experimental bottle, perhaps.

Nope.

Not when there are Cru Beaujolais that are better and cheaper. In fact, I've kinda decided that I will never personally buy anything less than a Cru again.

In fact, I've kinda decided that I will never personally buy anything less than a Cru again.

Don't be afraid to break this rule for the Brun L'Ancien or the Vissoux Traditionelle, especially if you're looking for good value wines.

I use to do a bottle or so every year just for the season but I've stopped that this year.